ONE in four men is now without a job, according to figures which show the changing face of Britain’s workforce.

While in 1971 92 per cent of working-age men were in employment, by this year it had fallen to just 76 per cent.

In contrast, the number of women in work has soared.

Only 53 per cent of women had jobs 42 years ago but today that has risen to 67 per cent.

However, more men work in high-status professions earning bigger salaries than women, the report from the Office for National Statistics said.

Of the 13.4 million women in work, 42 per cent are part-time compared with just 12 per cent of the 15.3 million working men.

Males in full-time jobs work an average of 44 hours a week – four more than female colleagues.

The change in the workforce with more women working and more men out of work happened mostly in the 20 years to 1991.

Over that period manufacturing declined and service sector jobs increased, says the Women In The World Of Work study of employment rates, occupations, skill levels and pay for women during the last 40 years.

It finds that, while women have made huge strides in numerous fields, in terms of equal opportunities with men there is still an imbalance between the sexes.

Men still make up the majority in the top 10 per cent of earners, although there is a smaller gap between men and women aged under 30.

However, while women dominate employment in the caring and leisure professions, the number in a managerial role is higher than the EU average.

At the end of last year, 34.8 per cent of managerial staff were female compared to a third within Europe. The figure was higher than Germany, Italy and Spain.

Employment rates for women are lowest in Northern Ireland and London (both around 62 per cent), which the ONS said could be down to the diverse ethnic population in the area, with some women looking after the family.

Men still make up the majority in the top 10 per cent of earners [GETTY]

While highlighting the strides women have made over the last 40 years, this report serves as a timely reminder of how far we have to go before we have a women-friendly labour market

Daisy Sands, of women’s rights group the Fawcett Societ

Employment rates were highest in the East of England, South-west and South-east at around 69 per cent.

Daisy Sands, of women’s rights group the Fawcett Society, said: “While highlighting the strides women have made over the last 40 years, this report serves as a timely reminder of how far we have to go before we have a women-friendly labour market.”

Ann Pickering, director of human resources at mobile phone company O2, said the report highlighted the need to get women better represented at higher levels of businesses.

“A truly diverse workforce is not just about what’s proper and fair, it is also crucial to business success,” she said.

“These findings are a wake-up call for businesses to act to ensure they don’t miss out on the valuable contribution made by women at all levels, whether that’s by providing better flexible working policies, childcare facilities or mentoring programmes to empower female talent.”